On Wednesday, several hundred people gathered in central Vilnius to protest against a developer's plans to cut down nine trees in a small green space on the corner of Basanavičiaus and Mindaugo streets.
The terrace square, known to most locals and tourists as the site of a statue portraying the French author Romain Gary, is part of the historic Railway Administration building. On it, developers plan to construct a glass and steel structure to expand a nearby cafe, placing seven plant pots instead of the nine mature trees.
The municipality had obliged Dobilo Daigas to organise a meeting with the community to answer their questions. However, no one from the company turned up. Only Valdas Benkunskas, the mayor of Vilnius, addressed the crowd.
Further reading
"An official inquiry has been launched in the municipality and those names [who allowed the trees to be cut down] will be brought up, but our main goal now is that the trees stay and live where they are meant to live," he said.
As the mayor spoke, protesters beat drums and demanded the removal of the city's chief architect Mindaugas Pakalnis.
According to the mayor, the Culture Ministry has now initiated a motion to recognise the trees as cultural heritage, thus protecting them as an integral part of the square.
Previously, although the municipality did not approve the removal of the trees, Dobilo Daigas appealed against this decision in court, which then ruled in favour of the developer.
On Monday, the Prosecutor General's Office said it had opened an investigation.
The protection of trees has been an ongoing issue in Lithuania. Activists have previously mobilised, usually unsuccessfully, to protect trees in cities across the country. In the most recent high-profile example, a mature oak tree was cut down in central Vilnius leading to the construction project’s suspension.
Activists have previously accused officials of corruption and allowing developers to destroy green spaces.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
